Known for its delectable array of delicious wines and tantalising foods, Barossa Valley in South Australia has made its name as a laid back, decadent Aussie honeymoon destination, nestled in northeast Adelaide just a 50-minute drive away. However, there is plenty more than meets the eye with an abundance of nature, plant and animal life just waiting to be uncovered.
Contents
Surrounded by National Parks, you can spend your days taking off on incredible hikes, spotting native flowers, kangaroos, emus and plenty more. You can explore some wow-worthy landmarks on their scenic heritage trails, or carve out some time to visit the heritage buildings, antique stores and craft shops.
For the ultimate bird’s-eye view, hop aboard a hot air balloon for sights that will stay with you for years to come. Here’s your guide to planning the ultimate honeymoon in Barossa Valley.
Is Barossa Valley a great honeymoon destination?
Where better to spend your first holiday as a married couple than this internationally-acclaimed wine region that encompasses the towns of Tanunda, Angaston and Nuriootpa. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur, a self-made foodie, or looking for a little adventure, Barossa Valley is the destination for you.
Your honeymoon is the perfect opportunity for you to relax and unwind after a busy period of wedding planning and truly celebrate your union. Barossa Valley offers up an abundance of award-winning restaurants you can wine and dine your way through, taking the indulgence to the next level. From delicious hand-crafted cheeses, to smoked meats, pastries and more, there’s something for all taste buds.
You can also lose yourself in nature, hiking through the nearby parks and feasting your eyes on the local flora, fauna and animal life. Immerse yourself in the culture of the area with a trip to the farmers’ markets where you can sample the produce, or check out the art galleries. It’s a great honeymoon destination just waiting to be experienced.
When’s the best time to visit?
Barossa Valley is one of those destinations that gives all-year round, offering a different experience depending what time of the year you choose to visit.
From about mid-February to late April you will find yourself in Autumn’s harvest season, as all the grapes are collected for wine making. You can see row upon row of mature, ripened grapes ready for the picking, which is quite a scene to behold. The days are also nice and warm and the evenings cool, with plenty of events and festivals on the calendar at this time of year.
From June to August you will be met with much cooler weather, with crisp winter days greeting you each morning. It’s the ideal time to take off on strolls through the valley, feasting your eyes on the lush green paddocks and pastures. Spring (September to November), brings plenty of colour to the region, with picnics and outdoor strolls high on your list of things to do.
Summer (December to February) offers up hot days and balmy evenings with longer nights to wine, dine and socialise well into the evening making use of the extra light.
Top attractions to visit
Barossa Valley is a food and wine haven with so many amazing places to visit, sightsee and taste test your way through. From the open vineyards to the grassy paddocks and surrounding National parks, there’s also plenty of nature to immerse yourself in along the way. Here are some of the top attractions to add to your to-do list.
Farmers Market
Open every Saturday morning from 7.30am to 11.30am in the Vintner’s Shed, Angaston, the Barossa Farmers Market isn’t to be missed. Discover a selection of fresh, seasonal local produce with vegetables, fruit, pastries, oils, preserves, cakes and plenty more. More than 50 producers gather each weekend to showcase their delicacies.
Head there on an empty stomach and check out the Breakfast Bar, where you can grab a delicious burger and amazing coffee to get you through the day. The stalls can vary from week to week, so if you happen to be staying in Barossa for a while, don’t be shy about making a second visit to these markets (coffee and cake is calling!).
Maggie Beer Farm
If you’re hoping to sample some of the best produce in the area, then a trip to Maggie Beer Farm needs to be on the itinerary. This is where you will find the best of the best!
Once you step foot in the farm shop, you won’t be leaving anytime soon. There’s so much to check out, along with free tastings that will delight your taste buds. You can purchase a glass of wine to wander around the shop with as you sample. Better yet, they also offer cooking demonstrations and cooking classes.
You can time your visit around the former, or actually book in a time to enjoy a class. You will come away with great knowledge about the local produce and how to turn it into a mouth-watering feast! Or, if you’re the type that prefers eating over cooking, book a lunch at The Farm Eastery run by Maggie’s daughter Elli.
Barossa Heritage Trail
Be sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes ready to hit this 40km walking, driving and cycling trail to discover the highlights of this incredible region. It takes you through all the main towns in the area, starting in Lyndoch and heading through Nuriootpa to Angaston. Simply head to a visitor’s centre, grab a map and get walking, cycling or driving to check it out.
It will come as no surprise that there are some incredible cellar doors along the way, including Seppeltsfield, Peter Lehmann and Jacob’s Creek.
There’s so much to do beyond the wine tasting. You can learn about Kapuna’s copper mining history, or even visit a lavender farm and French chateau in Lyndoch. End in the rural village of Angaston, where you can discover stories of the area, read about significant events and stop for a drink or bite to eat along the way.
Insider’s tip: download the Barossa Heritage Trails app where you will uncover six self-guided walking trails and one driving trail to undertake. The app is nice and interactive, sharing insights into the area’s heritage and history with a mix of text, photos, video and audio.
Whispering Wall
If you’re on the hunt for a unique activity to enjoy during your visit, the Whispering Wall is a great place to visit. Built between 1899 and 1903, it is part of the dam wall in the Barossa Reservoir Reserve, known for its acoustic effects.
The idea is simple. You can whisper something on one side, and it can be heard clearly more than 100 metres away on the other side of the wall. Your other half can stand on one side and whisper sweet messages to you on the other!
This area is surrounded by a nature reserve, so you can take a stroll through and explore the wildlife and local flora of the area. Note: the reservoir can close in the middle of Summer when it’s a high fire danger, so be sure to check before you go.
Day Trips
With so much to see, do and taste within Barossa Valley, there’s little reason to escape for a day trip. However, there are some day trips you can enjoy in the area to make the most of the surrounding sights!
Visit the local wineries
Let’s be honest, this should be top of your list of things to do while visiting Barossa Valley. You can book in with a local tour company and enjoy the luxury of sitting back and letting someone else do all the hard work (and the driving!) during the trip. Many tours will take you through Chateau Yaldara, Rosenvale, Wolf Blass, Ubertaz and other cellar doors, with a stop for lunch along the way.
You can also hire a bike, car or simply head off for a walk (albeit a long one) to explore the many wineries on your own. Here’s just one possible itinerary that’s easy to make your way around: start at Penfolds Cellar Door, before moving on to David Franz Cellar Door, Langmeil Winery, Barossa Valley Brewing, Jacob’s Creek Cellar Door and Grant Burge Wines.
Insider tip: just remember, if you’re biking or on foot, it’s hard to buy and bring wines with you. You can always come back another day to grab a few bottles of your favourite wine.
Town hop
The main towns of Barossa Valley are well-known: Tanunda, Nuriootpa and Angaston. What many tourists don’t realise is that there are also dozens of smaller towns around the area as well, which are well worth the visit. As they are off the beaten track, they don’t tend to attract the crowds, so you can step away and enjoy a little peace and quiet as you wander around.
Throughout your travels, you will come across gorgeous boutiques, cute cafes, a variety of tea shops, antique stores, small museums, galleries and more.
Greenock is well-known as a place where many Scottish immigrants have settled, with lots of wine pouring and a microbrewery housed in a 19th-Century wheat store. Marananga is known for its lush greenery and wineries, with unique live music playing as you enjoy a sip. Gawler shares a rich history with a number of boutique shops and outdoor activities.
Lyndoch Lavender Farm
This stunning, award-winning lavender farm is well-worth making your way to for a fun-filled day. It’s one of the oldest settlements in South Australia, where you will soak up plenty of history, alongside the gorgeous scenery.
While it’s located within the Barossa Valley, it’s worth making a day trip out of it to really explore the farm and leave no stone unturned. Within this working environment you have the opportunity to walk through the many scenic trails, and keep an eye out for local wildlife. You might be lucky enough to spot birds, butterflies and more within the gardens.
Once you’re done wandering, you can enjoy some lavender-infused treats at the cafe, with plenty more lavender-based products for you to purchase.
Insider tip: be sure to make a tour booking before arriving to lock in your spot.
How long do you need to spend in Barossa Valley on Honeymoon?
Believe it or not, a weekend is sufficient time to get a feel for this region and explore some of the highlights on offer. This makes it the ideal destination to add on to any honeymoon trip to Australia.
At the same time, there’s enough to do that a week would fill up nice and quickly. With all the wineries, good food and outdoor adventures waiting, your time will be well spent. It’s a great place to spend your whole honeymoon, indulging in all the region has to offer.
Saving for your Honeymoon trip
This will all come down to whether you're spending the majority of your time out in nature, or restaurant hopping and enjoying the same tantalising feasts. Nature is free, but the food and wine will set you back a pretty penny.
It’s not the cheapest of destinations to stay within Australia, but it does allow the opportunity to indulge on your honeymoon (you only get one, hopefully!). A week is likely to set you back almost $4,000 for accommodation, food, and wine. Flights will then need to be considered on top of this.
Have we given you the Aussie travel bug? We can help with that!
Our Australia Honeymoon Packages and Itineraries are a great place to start or Contact Us to discuss a bespoke honeymoon itinerary developed with our expert travel consultants.
Recent Posts
Blog Categories
Blog archives
- November 2024 (1)
- October 2024 (1)
- September 2024 (8)
- June 2024 (4)
- May 2024 (2)
- April 2024 (2)
- March 2024 (13)
- February 2024 (3)
- January 2024 (5)
- December 2023 (6)
- November 2023 (4)
- October 2023 (11)
- September 2023 (2)
- August 2023 (6)
- July 2023 (2)
- June 2023 (17)
- May 2023 (3)
- April 2023 (5)
- March 2023 (8)
- February 2023 (9)
- January 2023 (12)
- December 2022 (9)
- November 2022 (12)
- October 2022 (12)
- September 2022 (12)
- August 2022 (6)
- July 2022 (9)
- June 2022 (7)
- May 2022 (3)
- April 2022 (4)
- March 2022 (6)
- February 2022 (1)
- January 2022 (4)
- December 2021 (2)
- November 2021 (3)
- October 2021 (1)
- September 2021 (4)
- August 2021 (10)
- July 2021 (13)
- June 2021 (6)
- April 2021 (2)
- March 2021 (2)
- February 2021 (1)
- January 2021 (1)
- December 2020 (2)
- November 2020 (3)
- October 2020 (2)
- September 2020 (1)
- August 2020 (1)
- July 2020 (1)
- June 2020 (1)
- May 2020 (1)
- April 2020 (1)
- March 2020 (1)
- February 2020 (2)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (2)
- November 2019 (1)
- October 2019 (1)
- September 2019 (5)
- August 2019 (1)
- July 2019 (5)
- June 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (1)
- April 2019 (1)
- March 2019 (1)
- February 2019 (1)
- January 2019 (1)
- December 2018 (1)
- October 2018 (1)
- May 2018 (1)
- February 2018 (1)
- December 2017 (1)
- October 2017 (1)
- June 2017 (1)
- May 2017 (1)
- February 2017 (1)
- January 2017 (1)
- September 2016 (1)
- August 2016 (2)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (1)
- May 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (1)